Animalia Life

Sturnus roseus
SUBFAMILY
Sturninae
TAXONOMY
Turdus roseus Linnaeus, 1758, Lapland and Switzerland.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Rose-colored starling, rosy pastor; French: Йtourneau roselin; German: Rosenstar; Spanish: Estornino Rosado.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
7.5–9.1 in (19–23 cm); weight 2.1–3.1 oz (60–88 g). Black head to upper back, chin to base of throat, wing feathers, tail, and vent. Pale rosy back, breast, and abdomen. Bill ivory-yellow.
DISTRIBUTION
South-central Eurasia; generally found where locust swarms are regular; winters primarily in India, but wanders widely.
HABITAT
Found in semi-desert areas with thorn bushes; other barren areas, including industrial sites, agricultural areas, lawns, and pastures.
BEHAVIOR
Migrant; very gregarious. This is often a roadside bird, coming to puddles to bathe and drink as well as to bare areas to feed.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Diet includes primarily insects, especially grasshoppers, crickets, and locusts, but also grapes, mulberries, and other fruit. It often feeds in association with cattle.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Nests colonially in holes among rocks, in walls, or similar sites. In some studies, young were fed almost exclusively crickets and grasshoppers.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Long recognized for helping to control locust swarms. Sometimes hailed for eating locusts in the spring and hated for taking grapes in the summer.

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